Cardiovascular Health

Human urine may cure blood pressure Reported November 09, 2007 WASHINGTON: A study has identified a hormone from human urine, a xanthurenic-acid derivative, which might help safely flush sodium out of the body and could be harnessed to develop more effective and safer treatments for high blood pressure, or hypertension. The Cornell and the Boyce Thompson Institute for … [Read more...]

Mending Broken Hearts Reported October 13, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Bioengineers at Duke University believe they have taken an important first step toward growing a living "heart patch" to repair heart tissue damaged by disease. In experiments using mouse embryonic stem cells, the researchers created a mold to form a three-dimensional patch made … [Read more...]

Cardiovascular Risk may Affect the MindReported November 10, 2004 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Not being in optimum cardiovascular health not only affects the heart, but researchers now say mental health is also in jeopardy. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, found a link between metabolic syndrome and an increased risk for cognitive … [Read more...]

New Tool may Save Babies with Heart Defect Reported November 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers have developed a new tool that may help surgeons plan for a life-saving operation performed on babies born with severe congenital heart defects.   The tool was developed to aid doctors in preparing for the “Fontan" surgery. Babies who get the … [Read more...]

Overweight: The New Healthy? Reported January 15, 2009 CHARLESTON, S.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's an ever-growing number -- 66 percent of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, but, finally, there's some good news for those who are carrying around just a few extra pounds. New research shows being moderately overweight may actually be good for you. Tracey … [Read more...]

Abnormal Placentas Predict Early Cardiovascular Disease Reported November 18, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- In a recent study headed by Joel Ray, M.D., from the University of Toronto in Canada, researchers found women with a maternal placental syndrome during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature cardiovascular disease. A maternal placental syndrome may be caused by … [Read more...]

Psoriasis Linked to Cardiovascular Disease Reported June 17, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The skin disease psoriasis, in addition to being unsightly and painful, has now been linked to atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can lead to myocardial infarction – and death. Psoriasis affects nearly 3 percent of the world's population, … [Read more...]

Cutting off blood flow in the arm temporarily may leave some heart surgery patients better off after the procedure. Researchers from London looked at 57 patients having elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery. All participants had the amounts of troponin T in their blood measured before surgery and also at six, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery. Troponin T is a … [Read more...]

Screening DNA for High Blood PressureReported February 13, 2006 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Years of collecting data from families with high blood pressure has helped researchers discover a link between hypertension and a particular gene variation. The discovery helps explain why some people get high blood pressure and others don't. … [Read more...]

Small Changes Can Decrease Risk of Stroke Reported February 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Making simple changes to your lifestyle could dramatically decrease your risk of having a stroke, one of the leading causes of death and illness across the world. British researchers found people who lead unhealthy lifestyles are more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke than … [Read more...]

Statins Linked to Prostate HealthReported April 28, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Cholesterol-lowering statins may protect patients from prostate cancer, too. Studies have shown statin users have a lower incidence of advanced prostate cancer, but the mechanism was unknown. In a new study, researchers found the drugs’ anti-inflammatory effects could be at work. … [Read more...]

Study: Warfarin Best For Oldest Atrial Fibrillation Patients   Reported September 07, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Elderly patients with multiple risk factors for stroke benefit most from warfarin therapy for atrial fibrillation – the most common type of heart rhythm disorder, according to a new study. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the upper … [Read more...]

Teen Donors Plagued by ComplicationsReported May 22, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Complications from donating blood may be turning away an increasingly important source of blood -- teenagers. According to an American Red Cross study, 16- and 17-year-old blood donors are significantly more likely to experience donation-related complications like fainting and bruising. Young … [Read more...]

Toxic Gas Protects Hearts Reported November 14, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It stinks and strikes fear in the hearts of those who work underground, but the toxic gas hydrogen sulfide may be a lifesaver for patients with heart failure. In a recent study, low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas improved functioning in the hearts of mice with heart failure. After heart … [Read more...]

Wine 'can protect women's hearts' 11 July 2007 Scientists studied the effect of alcohol consumption on 102 women under the age of 75 who had survived a heart attack or surgery for blocked arteries. They found those who drank a small amount of wine every day for a year had the healthiest heart beat rhythm. Drinking beer or spirits did not … [Read more...]

Waist Measurement: A Powerful Tool Reported April 19, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One simple way to predict whether you are at risk for developing heart disease or diabetes may be to measure your waist. A Swedish study suggests people with a waistline of one meter (about 39 inches) or more … [Read more...]

Free drugs can improve life after heart attackReported December 01, 2009 TORONTO - Providing free drugs to heart attack patients could improve their lives at a relatively low cost to the exchequer, says a new study. “Many patients are not benefiting from effective prescribed medications because they simply don’t fill their prescriptions,” says Irfan Dhalla, physician at … [Read more...]

Women and Stroke: What You Need to Know Reported June 05, 2008 CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. It's our nation's third leading cause of death, but knowing your risk and what the symptoms are could save your life. At age 38, Nicole Reeder had a massive stroke. "I think the most profound loss I have is … [Read more...]

Taking vitamins C and E and beta carotene supplements does not seem to reduce the risk of heart attacks or heart-related death among women at high risk for heart disease, finds a study in Archives of Internal Medicine. Diets high in fruit and vegetables have been associated with lower rates of heart disease and stroke. It's thought that the antioxidants they contain prevent … [Read more...]

Genetics promises new era of health 12 July, 2007 Soon it will not be your family history that rings alarm bells in the GP's surgery. Instead, individual genes profiled from blood samples will alert doctors to your potential to develop a disease. This new technology means consumers will have little choice but to take preventive action when … [Read more...]

Gender Gap in Heart Attack Care Reported December 09, 2008 A new study of United States hospitals reveals that when woman are hospitalized with massive heart attacks they are likelier to die over men similarly hospitalized, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The AP said that, generally, although women seem to survive heart attacks at the same rate as men when they are … [Read more...]

Cardiovascular Disease Gene Analyses CompleteReported September 20, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Cardiovascular diseases affect more than one-third of the population, killing more than 870,000 Americans annually. Analyses of a genome-wide scan of two generations of participants are now available through a genotype database to help widen the understanding of the diseases. The … [Read more...]

Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy Shows Big Gains Reported June 26, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The percentage of patients who lowered their elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) "bad" cholesterol to within target levels has nearly doubled in the last decade, according to a recent survey. The Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) surveyed nearly 10,000 … [Read more...]

Common ECG Finding May Signal Serious Problems Reported June 29, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A common electrocardiogram (ECG) finding that has largely been considered insignificant may actually pose significant danger to the patient. In their report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital … [Read more...]

Deadly Disorder: HES Reported March 21, 2005 CINCINNATI (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Researchers hope a new drug can fight a blood disorder that shuts down vital organs. The study couldn't come sooner for one young boy and his mom who are both battling this disease. These days, Kody's hospital room is his home. Complete … [Read more...]

Doubling Drug Dose Before Angioplasty Reduces Death Risk Reported March 8, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows how the risk of death and heart attack can be reduced for heart patients undergoing an angioplasty. Researchers from Italy found doubling the usual dose of an anti-clotting drug before the procedure is … [Read more...]

EKG Readings Can be Wrong Reported November 19, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Measurements on the electrocardiogram (EKG) can often mislead physicians into diagnosing the heart condition left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), requiring further screening tests before a definitive conclusion can be reached. A study of 500 patients found a false positive reading … [Read more...]

Fish oil not Good for Abnormal Heart Rhythms Reported June 16, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Fish oil may be good for the heart overall, but it’s not so good for people with abnormal heart rhythms. According to a new study, fish oil -- and the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids it contains -- may actually … [Read more...]

Ginkgo Biloba Protects Brain from Stroke Reported October 13, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Ginkgo biloba has long been used as a natural brain booster. Now, researchers say it may also protect against brain damage after a stroke. In a recent study, scientists gave rodents a100 milligrams per kilogram oral dose of the extract for one week, and then induced a stroke. Brain … [Read more...]

Heart Care Comes Up Short Reported May 30, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Two new studies suggest doctors could do a better job when it comes to caring for the heart. European researchers who surveyed doctors on how they treat heart failure found too many physicians are ignoring medical evidence. The problem was worse among primary care physicians and internists/geriatricians. … [Read more...]